Before they were roads, they were only paths. Across Dorset, routes emerged slowly, worn into the land by centuries of passage, shifting with weather and season, never entirely fixed. Some followed high ground, others slipped into holloways or vanished altogether, leaving travellers to trust instinct as much as direction. Then came the Turnpikes. Order was imposed … Continue reading Dorset Turnpikes
Hidden behind a modern industrial estate, discover the sandy shores of Poole Harbour. Follow the old route of the military railway in its first phase of development to create the Cordite Way. Passing between the water and nature reserves, trace the old ruins down to the trains that still pass today. With views to Poole, … Continue reading Cordite Way
From the far eastern tip of the Isle of Purbeck head down to Old Harry’s Rocks where the official boundary of the Jurassic Coast begins. Stick to the coastal roads as they narrow and split to keep the sea in view for the majority of the ride. Divert down little dead end lanes to discover … Continue reading The Ultimate Jurassic Coast Drive
From the coastal cliffs of Kimmeridge, wander inland down into the valley of the River Corfe. Pass the mysterious Harp Stone, once marking an ancient route now sunk into the ground, and carved by centuries of rain, wind and sea spray. Clamber the remaining earthworks of Whiteway and zig zag up the Purbeck Hills to … Continue reading Blackmanston
Dorset's second largest river travels through Thomas Hardy country. From the high valleys in the heart of Dorset to the Vale of the Great Dairies, it merges with the sea in Poole Harbour. Discover a number of places to explore on its path, with tales of punished maidens to fierce Viking raids. Dorset Rivers Click … Continue reading River Frome
The River Piddle travels for 18 miles through two different landscapes. To the north are towering chalk hills of the Dorset Downs, which feed its smalls spring at Alton Pancreas. The flow travels south to then divert to the east through flat water meadows, merging with the Frome into the salty water at Poole Harbour. … Continue reading River Piddle
As small tribes farmed the Dorset landscape of the Iron Age, the political environment in the Roman Emipire was changing. Determined to expand they set their sights on Albion, forcing their way through with armed legions on newly developed roads, and renamed the country Britannia. New technologies, building practices, tools, skills, materials and beliefs were … Continue reading Roman Dorset
Circle the natural wonder of Upton Heath. From its urban edge, weave between towering silver birch, aromatic heather, and the clumpy, sharp gorse. Pass the site of an old brickworks with views over the heathland to Poole Harbour. Its harsh environment often played the backdrop in Thomas Hardy novels, when it was only inhabited by … Continue reading Upton Heath
